The Schooling Show!

So, I have been really lazy about posting, so I need to note down everything I want to from the past weeks - first the schooling show on April 6th. I already posted some pictures, but here is a bit fuller report.

The show was arranged by Equestrian's Institute, and hosted at my barn, so conveniently I did not have any travel.

That did not leave me any less nervous. Or terrified as L. called it!
I was pretty much frozen, though I am not sure why - I mean I had just done the test in the very same arena the day before? Well, rational thought went out the window, I guess.

Odin, however, was awesome. He was a bit concerned, because I clearly was ultra tense, but otherwise he conducted himself as a gentleman. The first time went to to the outdoor ring (through the other end of the indoor arena), he was nervous, but very relieved once L. grabbed the reins. There was a horse in a trailer nearby who was really dissatisfied and whinnied a lot, in my first test Odin answered him. L. pointed out it was because he was confused and feeling alone, since I was just tense on his back and not being a leader for him.

I think was a great point for me to think about. I can also feel it when we take a walk outside, I think Odin doesn't trust me 100% to not lead him into danger. I am not sure exactly how to work on this...

That didn't prevent Odin for doing his job, and doing the best he could. He totally helped me trough it, I was so happy with him. I really have no reason to be nervous, since he is so seasoned, and doesn't spook easily.
I, however, was standing in the stirrups, leaning forward, clamping my thighs on, etc... All documented in the videos below.

Between the two tests, L. coached me, and told me countless times to SIT BACK! Not that it helped that much, but a little bit. I already tend to sit too much forward, and being tense I do it even more. Bad habits go worse, good habits go away, that is what I learned!

I rode Level 1, test 1 and got 59.67% and Level 2, test 2 and got 58.89%.

A couple of notes from the tests:

The trot lengthenings were hard. Odin knew exactly what I wanted going across the diagonal and putting my legs on, but because he was on the forehand, he just became longer and longer and harder to ride. I need to be able to collect him much more so the push comes from behind and doesn't just consist of Odin running away in the front. He did really try to do what I asked.

In test 2, in addition to trot lengthenings is has canter lengthenings too, and leg yields.

The leg yields went pretty well, and the judge commented they were parallel. I was pretty proud of that, since we worked a lot on that.

One of the canter movements, I turned on a circle too late, and got me and Odin crooked. Odin thought I wanted a change, so I changed him back. Then down the long side, we were supposed to do canter lengthenings, but Odin was clearly riding another test, since he kept doing changes! I can only laugh about it, it was so clear he was really trying to do what I asked him to do.

I only got 3s for the canter movements, but generally my scores in the second test were higher, however, the total was still better for the first one.

Very telling was that I got a 5 for rider in the first, an 6 in the second. 8 for gaits, which shows that Odin is way better than me, hehe!

I got some comments to use less rein, which I will certainly try to keep in mind. I think part of it was that since I was so out of the saddle I had no seat, so I used the rein more. It all comes back to the seat....

Now, the videos:




In the end, I think the judges comment was very appropriate:

"Rider needs to help horse maintain better balance with stronger seat and leg and less use of rein aids"

Yup, horse was helping rider in this case! It really highlighted how much of star Odin is :)


After the show I was so, so tired, amazing how draining it can be. In the end it was great to try, and now I have all these goals I can work towards, I love that. it really gives me reason to work harder, how can I ever ride a nice test if my seat is out of the saddle so I can't do a proper half-halt?